LeBron James Is The MVP, Not Giannis.

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat showed out to a game 1 win against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis' inability to perform in 4th quarters proves what we should already know: LeBron James is the NBA's real MVP.

Being the best player on the floor in the fourth quarter of big games is hard. Only a couple guys can do it(the real MVP's). We saw what felt like big games at the time: Bucks-Lakers back in march and Lakers-Clippers the following day. Both teams understood the magnitude of these matchups and the ability of LeBron James to impose his will late in games should have told NBA writers(voters) what VALUE means in the NBA.

Statistics are entertaining to use for comparisons into the game's past, but we can't fall victim to stat-watching for this year's MVP race. We did it for Russell Westbrook in 2017 and it couldn't have landed more like Charles Barkley's MVP over Jordan. A complete embarrassment to the sport.

Since LeBron entered the league in 2003, he has the most "clutch" baskets in the NBA making 7-16(43.8%). No one else is close.

Even this stat back in 2018 shows how much LeBron's game was separating itself late. Showing real value when it counts:

Writers and broadcasters desperately cling to Giannis and his regular season statistics, but what is "value"? In our past(and apparently today) it means "who has the most compelling story line?" That's a great way to award MVP's to players other than the game's best player. Not like LeBron was dominated statistically and then shrunk against the Bucks.

Giannis and Kawhi came to town for an ass kicking. Both sides understood the intensity of those games. They meant something. LeBron taught two 48-minute college courses on what being valuable means. When the game is on the line(regular season or not) LBJ's teammates expect me to get it done, while Giannis sprinkles his game from the first quarter into the mid-fourth.

Watching the Jordan documentary did justice showing the process of MJ leading up to clutch time. Giannis and the Bucks not only don't have a process in the clutch, but the ball wasn't even IN HIS HANDS. Most notable from the top graphic is that Antetokounmpo had nearly as many shot attempts(4) as he did turnovers(3).

The inevitable MVP winner(Giannis) shouldn't be soaking in the benefits of regular season team success or stats. He should be judged on one simple criteria: If (team's best player) Giannis was off his team, who would they be?

We know LeBron James' Lakers have the worst offense in the NBA in his absence. Let's check it out:

The real MVP of the NBA is LeBron James. He brings harmony and success to the team directly through his minutes on the floor. There's no hiding behind team success or another player picking up his value for a month or having team depth carry some weight. LBJ is the most impactful force on the floor in the Western Conference. The excuses should end now.

Pretending the Eastern Conference is magically strong the moment James leaves is laughable. We didn't reward the 67-win Atlanta Hawks in 2015 with an MVP candidate. Let's not reward Giannis for being apart of the same accomplishment.